New abortion bills could make Ohio one of the strictest states regarding a woman’s right to choose.
Two abortion bills have been introduced this year in the Ohio House of Representatives, said Sarah Osmer, a political spokeswoman for the National Abortion Reproduction Rights Action League.
“Ohio is the worst state to protect a woman’s right to choose,” Osmer said. “The legal staff at NARAL comprises information on all 50 states. They look at the number of restricted laws. Ohio has some of the most. We are a test state to see how many laws they can pass without being overturned.”
Rep. Derrick Seaver, a Democrat from Minster, created the Paternal Consent Bill 339, which requires a woman to receive paternal consent before she can have an abortion.
“This law is unconstitutional because the Supreme Court ruled that spousal consent violated a woman’s rights,” Osmer said. “Women may not even know who the father is. She has to undergo a paternity test, find the father and gain his consent. This process can take a long time.”
Jill, who requested her last name be withheld, is the head surgical nurse at Northwest Women’s Center, 4818 Indianola Ave. She said 50 percent of women who come to her clinic do not know who the father is.
“We would have to line women up and give them all DNA tests, if they could even find the father,” Jill said.
Another bill pending in the House of Representatives, H.B. 360, proposes women cannot take the drug RU-486 until undergoing a psychiatric examination.
Rep. Tom Brinkman, a Republican from Cincinnati, created H.B. 360 because people do not know the dangers of the pill, said Kara Joseph, assistant to Brinkman.
“A psychiatrist would determine if the woman’s mental health is in danger if she takes RU-486,” Joseph said. “The pill has received a lot of negative attention in other countries because of the dangers. China, who has forced abortions and manufactures RU-486, banned its own pill. It causes massive bleeding, and women are told to expect the heaviest period they’ve ever had.
“Bleeding can last from 10-30 days. If women are smaller-built they can develop anemia. Also if a woman doesn’t completely expel the fetus, she can get an infection.”
Osmer said H.B. 360 is based on the false premise abortion is traumatic.
“This law states women are unfit to decide. The American Psychological Association said Post-Traumatic Abortion Syndrome does not exist. If a woman is having a difficult time, it is because her partner or family is not being supportive. Outside sources make it stressful,” Osmer said.
Northwest Women’s Center does not offer information about the adverse effects of using RU-486, Jill said.
“The government doesn’t sell the real facts. It sounds like you take the pill and it all goes away. The woman has to be under eight weeks to take it, and the abortion could happen anytime. They could be at the grocery store or work. There is nothing they can do,” she said. “If all the tissue doesn’t expel, they have to go through a surgical procedure anyway.”
Ohio laws have also created procedures mandating how clinics perform abortions.
Patients must visit the clinic 24 hours before an abortion is performed, Osmer said.
“Under state law you have to show a pamphlet that is pro-abortion and one that lists other options during a consultation that occurs 24 hours before a scheduled procedure,” Osmer said.
Jennifer Estes, the director of Capital Care Women’s Center, 3040 N. High Street, said the abortion process at her clinic has two parts including a consultation and a meeting with a patient advocate.
“The state of Ohio requires we offer two booklets to each of our patients,” Estes said. “The booklet has to be in patients’ hands for at least 24 hours. Also, the state of Ohio requires our patients to listen to our medical director about the risks and complications of abortion or full-term pregnancies.”
Estes said women can have a consultation and the procedure in the same day because they can uphold the 24-hour waiting period over the phone.
Mark Lally, spokesman for Ohio Right to Life, said the 24 hour waiting period was created because women stated they were not properly informed about the abortion procedure.
“Before the law, women didn’t need to meet the physician before they were on the operating table,” Lally said. “They couldn’t check qualifications or have a real opportunity to ask questions.”
Ohio laws also have guidelines for when women can have abortions, Osmer said.
“In the first trimester there are no restrictions. In the second trimester there are restrictions to make sure the procedure is safe. In the third trimester the law recognizes a potential for life, and women can only get abortions if rape and incest are involved or a woman’s life is in danger,” Osmer said.
Jill said Northwest Women’s Center does not perform abortions on women who are more than 13 weeks pregnant.
“We only go up that high because we feel patients have had ample amount of time to make their decision,” she said. “We also do it for insurance purposes and psychological purposes.”
Capital Care performs abortions on women up to 22 weeks pregnant, and it is one of the only clinics in Columbus to perform late-term abortions, Estes said.
The parental consent law states a minor must have her parents consent before having an abortion, Osmer said.
“I support open communication, but this forces women to disclose information that can put them in danger. They end up finding way to get an abortion without parental consent anyway.”
Lally said parental consent is important because an abortion is a life-changing decision.
“With secret abortions, some girls have emotional problems,” Lally said. “Parents are unaware and not necessarily looking out for what’s going on. Girls might have severe physical problems and try to conceal them. They could get worse and be too afraid to tell their parents.”
Osmer said abortion was legalized in part to protect women who could fall victim to illegal abortions. Many women living in rural Ohio try illegal abortions, and they often don’t have the right to choose because they lack money and transportation, she said.
